According to an email sent in by a listener, a female ABC interviewer was shocked to hear that the General proposed to introduce a troupe of boy scouts to the art of rifle-shooting.

Alan Jones: Female interviewer, "Don't you admit that this is a terribly dangerous activity to be teaching children?" Cosgrove, "I don't see how. We'll be teaching them proper rifle discipline before they even touch a gun." Female interviewer, "But you're equipping them to become violent killers!" General Cosgrove, "Well ma'am, you're equipped to be a prostitute but you're not one, are you?"

— 2GB, Alan Jones Show, 30th April, 2008

Well, as Alan Jones says, regardless of how you feel about shooting, you've gotta love that one. Laugh? I could have cried...

But a few minutes later, Alan had to confess that his producer Paul had given him bad news.

Alan Jones: Paul's done some fossicking and tells me it's an urban myth. The interview never took place. I'm told the urban myth started as a joke in Wales in 1997...but it's all a fake. My apologies to General Cosgrove and I might make a suggestion. If you see something like this could you please check it yourself before sending it to me, there's only one of me.

No, there's not, Alan. According to your website, there's Paul and four others on your team.

But Alan Jones listeners, please note. It's your job to get it right, not his. Jonesy, it seems, is a sort of human computer - you know, garbage in, garbage out.

That's it for now. Join me again next week.

Note for Media Watch viewers: If you read or hear of a story that seems like a hoax there are numerous websites (e.g. Snopes, Hoax-Slayer) which list well known hoax stories. Alternatively a simple internet search may be enough to reveal that the story is in fact a hoax.